A simple medical procedure can cause the inclusion of bacteria into the bloodstream, and the infection can spread up to the inner heart layer or the endocardium. The doctor called the bacterial infection endocarditis. If not treated, endocarditis may cause heart failure or death.

Bacterial infections of the heart

With proper treatment, most people with endocarditis bacteria recover rapidly.

How can endocarditis bacteria occur?

Endocarditis almost always occurs if the bacteria get into the bloodstream and attaches to the abnormal heart valve, usually due to previous heart conditions (such as mitral valve prolapse or thickening of the heart valve due to rheumatic fever) at once Misfortune.

Everyone gets some germs in the blood every day, which appears if going to the dentist or undergoing simple or scratched surgery. Usually, the bacteria are harmless before neutralized with the immune system. However, some types of bacteria – mostly a member of the Streptococcus family, Enterococcus, or staphylococcus – are able to utilize the bloodstream as a pathway to the heart.

Bacteria that can cause endocarditis generally live in the mouth, digestive system, urinary tract, or the upper part of the respiratory system without causing any harm. In addition, bacteria will usually stay in the place – if the medical procedure does not open the pathway to the bloodstream.

Any dental procedures that cause bleeding, including tooth cleansing, may result in endocarditis. Other common infection opportunities include tonsillectomy, examinations with bronchoscopes, prostate or bladder surgery, and other surgeries in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary tract. People who regularly inject illegal drugs also have the opportunity to multiply bacteria in the blood.

Who can experience endocarditis bacteria?

Bacteria rarely infect normal and healthy heart. Anyone who begins to be exposed to endocarditis usually has suffered severe heart damage. Many people who are naturally occurring or natural heart valves are damaged by congenital abnormalities or rheumatic fever. People with mitral valve prolapse are also at risk.

What are the symptoms of endocarditis bacteria?

The signs of endocarditis bacteria vary on each person and can be vague. Some people experience pain similar to flu with fever, chills, fatigue, and body pains that last for several weeks or months. Others feel weak or decreased weight without obvious reasons. Your doctor may suspect the presence of endocarditis bacteria after listening to your heart rate with a stethoscope. Diagnosis is ensured by a blood test and echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound display of your heart.

Can endocarditis bacteria be prevented?

If you experience any type of heart damage, ask your doctor if you are prone to bacterial endocarditis. If the answer is yes, you should protect yourself. Make sure every dentist and general practitioner knows your condition. Before you undergo any procedure that can cause infection, a dentist or general practitioner should provide a dose of antibiotics (most often 2 grams of amoxicillin, or other medications if you are allergic to penicillin) that is drunk an hour before the procedure. Your doctor may provide a card explaining your condition to be stored in the wallet.

Treatment of endocarditis Bacteria

When bacteria nest in the heart, you will need antibiotics for about 4-6 weeks. You may initially receive the drug through infusion in the hospital. Later, you can drink antibiotics at home.

Ideally, doctors can prescribe medications that specifically deal with your infection. For example, the daily dose of penicillin is able to eradicate most of the streptococcus bacteria. However, doctors often have to start treating infections before germs can be identified. In this case, you will be given a common antibiotic to attack the bacteria that may be causing the problem.

In most cases, the infection will disappear rapidly. Unfortunately, many types of bacteria begin to be immune to antibiotics. The doctor will want to keep an eye on you strictly to ensure the drug works. In rare cases, if a type of complication of heart failure worsens during antibiotic treatment, you may need surgery to remove the infection.

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